Sights and sounds from an ACC Tournament triumph for Duke

But when the game ended, it was Duke celebrating at center court.

The No. 11 Blue Devils erased a 14-point deficit to capture their first ACC championship under head coach Kara Lawson, defeating No. 7 NC State, 76-62. Duke guard Oluchi Okananwa came off the bench and dominated, posting 22 points and 10 rebounds to earn tournament MVP honors.

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Duke’s first few possessions ended in turnovers and contested shots, while NC State quickly found its rhythm. NC State guard Saniya Rivers scored the first points of the game soon followed by NC State guard Zoe Brooks with two more and NC State guard Aziaha James nailing a three-pointer, leading the Wolfpack to a quick 7-0 lead. The Wolfpack bench erupted and fans matched the energy. A dazed Blue Devil bench looked on, searching for answers. Duke guard Taina Mair responded with a jumper for the Blue Devils’ first points of the game at 7:31. Duke continued to struggle getting started, turning over the ball three times in the first four minutes. NC State guard Madison Hayes hit a three at 6:05 with Rivers padding the long-range stat on the next bucket.

Throughout the game, Duke’s band tried to disrupt shooters at the free throw, alternating chants of “It’s closer than you think!” and “It’s farther than you think!” Under the opposing basket, a spectator donned in a bright red sequined blazer added to the noise, standing out in the crowd as he gestured toward the court. His presence was impossible to miss, though the players remained locked in at the line.

NC State continued to dominate as the Wolfpack led by as many as 14 points with James hitting back-to-back threes to start the second quarter. 

With 43 seconds left in the half, James stepped out of bounds and fell to the floor, looking to have hurt her hip. A hush fell over the arena as she lied on the floor for several moments before being carried off the court, unable to put weight on her leg. James used a wheelchair as she made her way through the tunnel, but later returned to a round of applause at the beginning of the next quarter.

A frustrated Blue Devil team went into the locker room trailing by 7 at halftime, 36-29. During the trophy presentation, an emotional Okananwa explained through tears what type of mindset led Duke to turn on the jets in the second half.

“Stay us. Stay Duke,” she said. “We know who we are. We practice together for hours [and have] played hundreds of games together, and it’s just that we know who we can be when we’re all locked in and done.”

When Duke emerged from the locker room for the second half, everything changed. The defense tightened, the offense clicked and the momentum flipped. Duke began narrowing the gap towards the middle of the third quarter as guard Ashlon Jackson’s layup bounced in high off the glass and put the Blue Devils within two points. The crowd erupted as Duke guard Reigan Richardson hit a mid-range shot to tie the game at 42. The Duke bench sprang to their feet and waved towels to hype up their teammates. Mair gave the Blue Devils their first lead of the night with a layup and 4:14 remaining in the third quarter. Shouts of “Our House!” from Duke fans echoed from the stands.

Duke forward Jordan Wood hit a layup with 33 seconds to go in the third. As the Wolfpack immediately called a timeout, Wood chest bumped Okananwa to celebrate the basket and the Duke bench ran onto the court. 

Duke guard Jadyn Donovan’s two-pointer at 8:39 in the fourth that would have put the Blue Devils up by 10 (58-48) was later ruled a shot clock violation and met with resounding boos from Duke fans.

As Duke continued to hold onto their lead, Blue Devil fans shouted, “Never doubted!” from behind the press row. Okanawaka tied her career high of 22 points with 4:02 left in the game met with a roar from Duke fans as they realize a tournament win may be within their grasp.

When the game ended, Duke players rushed to center court. Players lifted Lawson on their shoulders in celebration. She signaled a “number one” to the crowd to solidify the team’s win. After blue and white confetti settled, Lawson handled scissors to each player to cut down pieces of the net.

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In the postgame conference, Lawson took a moment to reflect on the foundation of her coaching philosophy and its ties to her legendary coach Pat Summit.

“Foundationally, how we run our program, most of that comes from Coach Summitt,” Lawson told reporters. “You know, what our standards and expectations are. So it’s not just today, it’s every day in our program. There’s a Coach Summitt thread and influence. She coached us hard. She loved us hard, and that’s the same approach that I take with my players. I thought of her this morning when I was getting ready for the game. I know she would be really proud of the defensive performance in the second half.”

For Lawson, this title wasn’t just about winning – it was about building something lasting.

“When I first got to Duke five years ago, we were the worst team in the ACC,” Lawson told reporters. “Now, five years later, we’re at the top.”

The Blue Devils avenged three of their regular-season losses – beating Notre Dame, Louisville and NC State. With the ACC trophy in hand, Duke now turns its attention to the NCAA tournament. The Blue Devils are projected to host first-round games and enter March as one of the hottest teams in the country.

For a team that was once at the bottom of the ACC, Duke has arrived. March is just beginning.

“Most meaningful pursuits in life are the things you have to earn, not the things people vote on, not the things that people give their opinion on,” Lawson said during the trophy presentation. “It’s what you earn between the lines.”

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